King of Fools
A/N: So I've had exams, thus the notable absence from . But they're done now and I slept for a day or so and now I'm doing the writing thing. SO SORRY for the wait. I've been writing a Walking Dead fic and the exams were really soul crushing and I drank too many margaritas and this all contributed to a belated and shorter-than-usual chapter. More soon. Much love.
Black Rose Kali: I did feel that chapter six was very different in tone to the others, and that such a sudden change of pace might be jarring for readers. Will try and stabilise in future. Again, you're a doll!
ME: Yes I am, sirrah. Yes I am.
Caffieneasaur: Love your name. So. Much. I audibly laughed when I saw it and thus drew the stares of passerbys (I write in coffee shops, mostly). Rock on with the bacardi, but I had a kickass margarita last night and I'm proclaiming it my new favorite drink. Specially with salt around the rim. Delish.
Wickedchik500: Ah, we all love Bruce. Don't worry, he's a worthy segue. You will see what happens next right… now… And cheers!
Guest: Unique is a good word! Thank you!
The Amazing: Shall shall shalll! Sorry for the long wait, bro.
AviatrixAmelie: I promise I will, thanks for your review :)
Darklight247: I updated, perhaps not in a timely manner, but still! Thanks man x
Apples1024: Aw, thats so nice! Hopefully this week pleases you!
MagicalElf73: Thank you! And welcome to the Bunnysphere!
VeelaSophia: DUDE THANK YOU. I was really worried about getting Steve in character in particular, cause, y'know, I actually don't give a shit about Steve usually. Bruce is my guilty pleasure, Loki is by far my favourite character, but I just can't bypass dear Dr. Banner. And I've been using the Persephone name for characters for years, I don't know why but I adore it and I think it really tends to fit the kind of heroines I create. So I'm with you on the Seph love. You've been so supportive throughout and I just can't thank you enough!
The Lady Clouds: I have to admit that the Crayola line was a stroke of rare genius on my part. I'm so glad my brand of black humour is appreciated! And I'm glad she seems relatable, I try really hard to convey a sense of non-sueness. Of vulnerability, and the like, without having her be a weepy pushover. I love your penname by the way!
Larissa Lahn Ann: I applaud your commitment in reviewing as you go, I must admit I am lax in doing so for the writers I follow. Good on you! I like your quip about being burdened with glorious purpose/an eighteen year old. Made me laugh. She's not the Greek myth person, at least not at this point, it was actually completely coincidental! I use this name for a few stories and the whole Greek mythology god thing didn't really click until about chapter four. The throat thing: he just seems like a strangler, y'know? Plus, I feel like it would be hard for me to build a romantic relationship between the two of them if he like, bicycle kicked her or socked her in the jaw. Strangling seemed more… delicate. Thank you for the review(s)!
Summary: Captivity continues. Banter ensues.
Chapter Seven: Dramatic Capitalisation
"So, thanks for asking them to put me in here with you," I said, voice laden with sarcasm.
"You're quite welcome, dear." Loki replied, nonchalantly. "They've remodelled since my last visit, the glass is now twice as unbreakable, I'm told."
"It's a quality establishment, to be sure." I play along. "My other room had a bed, but, y'know, whatever. This works too."
He looked at me with those icy eyes. "You are as gracious as you are beautiful."
It took me a moment to process whether or not he was calling me ugly, by which time Steve, or as I had been calling him, El Capitano, had approached the glass.
"Do you mind keeping the lovers' quarrel to a minimum?" He asked with a strained voice.
"Quarrel? Whatever could you mean? Persephone – do you have any notion of what the good captain is talking about?" Loki asked in a smooth but undeniably passive-aggressive voice.
"I'm sure I don't," I replied sourly, giving Loki the evil eye. "We are the picture of marital bliss."
His smile wore thin, but he maintained his composure. "That we are, sweetling. That we are."
Captain America groaned and moved away from the glass, retaking his seat by the door with all sixteen of our guards.
First checking to see if the Captain was looking, I nudged Loki with my foot. "Hey!" I whispered. He glanced up, eyebrow quirking quizzically.
"Yes?"
"What's the plan?" I ask in a hushed tone.
"The plan is none of your concern, sweetling." He replied, equally quiet. "You leave everything to me."
"Of course, dear." I mutter sarcastically. "Leave it all to you, sweetling."
His expression became all the more curious, and he beckoned for me to come closer. I crawled forward a little, trying not to draw the eye of our vigilant guardian. He leaned forward, which seemed a tad unnecessary, and whispered in my ear.
"I am growing tired of the unrelentingly poor attitude, Persephone."
I shivered, but tried to keep my composure. "Well, I'm tired of constantly being on the precipice of death, but you don't hear me bitching."
"I do, actually," Loki shot back, "loudly, incessantly."
"Fuck you." I retort, not really able to come up with anything better.
"Fuck you." He said, his eyes alluding to a whole other meaning of the phrase. I blush and turn away, leaning back against the glass and drawing my knees to my chin.
"You're so mean," I say tiredly, still avoiding eye contact.
It seemed for a moment that Loki was going to respond, but then he lapsed into silence, and stayed in such a state for many hours.
Loki had a number of concerns weighing on his brilliant mind, some of which had no business being there.
For instance, he spent an inordinate amount of time trying to discern why Dr. Banner had taken such an interest in the well-being of his young charge.
It had started with The Visit. The Visit which lived in infamy, and was correspondingly capitalised for dramatic effect.
Loki reflected on the event. In reality he sulked over it, but Loki was a god, and gods didn't sulk. They pondered.
Dr. Banner had entered detention warily. This was understandable, given that the room was originally built with him in mind. Loki had watched him like a hawk, waiting for the inevitable swipe that was coming his way. Doubtless the Doctor was here for information.
"Persephone," Bruce said gently, "how are you doing?"
Loki blinked, looking from Persephone to Bruce, and then back again. He didn't know what this was, but he knew with terrible certainty that he didn't like it.
"Mm fine." Persephone replied sleepily. It was hard to tell what the time was supposed to be in detention, there were no windows, so sleep came sporadically. "Bored, uncomfortable, but fine."
"I'm sorry this has happened to you," Bruce said kindly, "Tony wanted me to tell you he's sorry too. We're not the bad guys, though maybe it doesn't seem that way right now."
Loki knew he needed to intervene. "What a talented liar you are, Dr. Banner."
"I didn't come here to talk to you, Loki." Bruce said in a strained voice. "I just wanted to check in, see if your young friend needed anything. You were inconsiderate enough to kidnap her, seems like the least I can do."
"How gracious," Loki replied coldly. "She's fine."
"I wasn't asking you," Bruce said coldly.
"And apparently nobody's asking me," Persephone said from her spot on the floor, glaring at both of them haughtily. "You've both done an excellent job of forgetting I'm here throughout your scathing back-and-forth. Congratulations."
"Sorry," Bruce said.
"Don't apologise to her," Loki snapped, "she's not yours to apologise to."
"Excuse me?" Persephone said incredulously, "whose exactly am I then? Not yours, surely."
"Please shut up, sweetling," Loki said tensely, without even glancing her way.
Persephone glared at him, but obliged. This quiet hatred was a kind of progress when contrasted with previous versions of loud, vehement hatred, he supposed.
Dr. Banner gave Persephone one last look, "Kid, you let me know if there's anything I can do."
And then he was gone.
The Visit was as brief as it was infamous. And there Loki sat, in his cell, still thinking about it hours later.
Persephone was clearly restless. He doubted she'd ever had to sit so still for so long in all her life. He found himself curious about what that life entailed. He told himself it was because he too was bored senseless.
"What is it you do with your time usually?" He asked. "I can only presume it's not this."
Persephone blinked, her doe eyes displaying confusion. "Um... all kinds of stuff, I guess. Why do you want to know?"
He gestured around at the empty cell.
"Oh." She said. "Right. Well, I like to read. And I like the Lord of the Rings... um..."
Loki frowned. "I am unfamiliar with this lord, have we met?"
Persephone laughed a silvery laugh. "No. He's like the Loki of a fictional place called Middle Earth. Name's Sauron."
Loki nodded as if this made sense to him. "Continue."
"I dunno. Mostly I just sit around and think about stuff. About being elsewhere."
"And what are your feelings towards Dr. Banner?" He asked. She appeared surprised by the question.
She wrinkled her nose. "Ew. He's old."
He relaxed. Of course. He's old. He had nothing to fear.
How old is too old? The question sprung to mind. Am I too old?
Well, yes. Replied another voice. You're a god. You've lived more than a hundred human lifetimes. If Dr. Banner is old, you are prehistoric.
"So... what do you do?" She asked. "Y'know, when you're not plotting world domination."
"I cause trouble," he replied simply. "God of Mischief."
"Ah, right," she nodded, "I forgot. So, no hobbies?"
"Not really," he said, "I had duties to occupy me before, as a Prince of Asguard."
"Prince?" Her eyebrow quirked upwards. "Prince Loki?"
"Yes," he replied testily. "I was a prince. I am the rightful king, also, if you remember."
"Oh, I fear I have been monstrously improper, my lord," Persephone grinned, jumping to her feet and curtseying in the most ostentatious of ways. "I was unaware that I was standing in the presence of one so eminent, so regal, so-"
"Shut up."
"Of course, my liege..."
"I've strangled you before, dear," he reminded her tiredly.
She grinned and sat back down. "True."
"Try and get some sleep." He instructed her.
"Okay," she yawned. "Mm tired anyway."
He let his gaze flicker to her one last time before he allowed himself to dose off. She'd turned onto her side and had used her arms as a pillow of sorts. A stray strand of gold hair hung in front of her face, blowing back and forth as she breathed.
It was annoyingly adorable. Perhaps tomorrow he would cut off all her hair. Then she wouldn't be so pretty.
